The Marshall Mathers LP
Criminal
Eminem
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
41
End
300
Internal
107
Multi
295
Slant
19
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
I'm a criminal!✦
'Cause every✦ time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
To tell 'em what's on my mind, I guess I'm a criminal!✦
I don't gotta✦ say a word, I just flip 'em the bird
And keep goin', I don't take shit from no one
I'm a criminal!✦
'Cause every✦ time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
To tell 'em what's on my mind, I guess I'm a criminal!✦
I don't gotta✦ say a word, I just flip 'em the bird
And keep goin', I don't take shit from no one
[Verse 2]
The mother✦ did drugs, hard liquor,✦ cigarettes and speed
The baby✦ came out, disfigured ligaments, indeed✦
It was a seed who would grow up just as crazy✦ as she
Don't dare make fun of that baby,✦ 'cause that baby✦ was me
I'm a criminal,✦ an animal✦ caged✦ who turned✦ crazed✦
But how the fuck you supposed to grow up when you weren't✦ raised?✦
So as I got older✦ and I got a lot taller✦
My dick shrunk smaller, but my balls got larger✦
I drank more liquor✦ to fuck you up quicker
Than you'd wanna✦ fuck me up for sayin' the word—
My morals went *thhbbpp* when the president got oral✦
Sex in his Oval✦ Office✦ on top of his desk off of his own employee
Now, don't ignore✦ me, you won't avoid✦ me
You can't miss me: I'm white, blonde-haired, and my nose is pointy✦
I'm the bad guy who makes✦ fun of people that die
In plane crashes and laughs as long as it ain't happenin' to him
Slim Shady,✦ I'm as crazy✦ as Em-
-inem✦ and Kim combined (The maniac's in)
In place of the Doctor✦ 'cause Dre couldn't make it today✦
He's a little under✦ the weather, so I'm takin'✦ his place (Mm-mm-mmm!)
Oh, that's Dre with an AK to his face
Don't make me kill him too and spray his brains all over✦ the place
I told you, Dre, you should've kept that thang put away✦
I guess that'll teach you not to let me play with it, eh?
I'm a criminal!✦
[Skit]
MEL-MAN:✦ Aight, look
EMINEM:✦ Uh-huh
MEL-MAN:✦ Just go up in that motherfucker,✦ get the motherfuckin'✦ money✦ and get the fuck up outta✦ there
EMINEM:✦ Aight
MEL-MAN:✦ I'll be right here waitin'✦ on you
EMINEM:✦ Aight
MEL-MAN:✦ Yo, Em
EMINEM:✦ What?!
MEL-MAN:✦ Don't kill nobody✦ this time
EMINEM:✦ Awwright… goddamn, this motherfucker✦ gets on my fuckin'✦ nerves!✦
{*Whistling*} How you doin'?
TELLER:✦ Hi, how can I help you?
EMINEM:✦ Yeah, I need to make a withdrawal
TELLER:✦ Okay✦
EMINEM:✦ Put the fuckin'✦ money✦ in the bag, bitch, and I won't kill you!
TELLER:✦ What? Oh my God, don't kill me!
EMINEM:✦ I'm not gonna✦ kill you, bitch, quit lookin'✦ around
TELLER:✦ Don't kill me, I've got two kids at home don't kill me!
EMINEM:✦ I said I'm not gonna✦ fuckin'✦ kill you
TELLER:✦ Don't kill me!
EMINEM:✦ Hurry✦ the fuck up! {*Gunshot*} Thank you!
[Verse 3]
Windows tinted✦ on my ride when I drive in it (Go, go, go!)
So when I rob a bank, run out and just dive in it
So I'll be disguised in it and if anybody identifies
The guy in it, I hide for five minutes
Come back, shoot the eyewitness
Fire at the private eye hired✦ to pry in my business
Die bitches, bastards, brats, pets
This puppy's lucky✦ I didn't blast his ass yet
If I ever✦ gave a fuck, I'd shave my nuts
Tuck my dick in between my legs and cluck
You motherfuckin'✦ chickens ain't brave enough
To say the stuff I say, so just tape it shut
Shit, half the shit I say, I just make it up
To make you mad, so kiss my white naked✦ ass
And if it's not a rapper✦ that I make it as
I'ma✦ be a fuckin'✦ rapist in a Jason mask
[Chorus]
I'm a criminal!✦
'Cause every✦ time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
To tell 'em what's on my mind, I guess I'm a criminal!✦
I don't gotta✦ say a word, I just flip 'em the bird
And keep goin', I don't take shit from no one
I'm a criminal!✦
'Cause every✦ time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
To tell 'em what's on my mind, I guess I'm a criminal!✦
I don't gotta✦ say a word, I just flip 'em the bird
And keep goin', I don't take shit from no one
[Chorus]
I'm a criminal!✦
'Cause every✦ time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
To tell 'em what's on my mind, I guess I'm a criminal!✦
I don't gotta✦ say a word, I just flip 'em the bird
And keep goin', I don't take shit from no one
I'm a criminal!✦
'Cause every✦ time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
To tell 'em what's on my mind, I guess I'm a criminal!✦
I don't gotta✦ say a word, I just flip 'em the bird
And keep goin', I don't take shit from no one
[Outro]
(I am) I'm a criminal!✦
Technical Breakdown
9.1
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.5
Performance and control
Computed Score9.05
Production
— Eminem, F.B.T.Be the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse functions as a masterclass in aggressive, narrative-driven cadence, utilizing internal rhyme density and shock-value structural shifts to mask a deeply personal, trauma-informed origin story.
A+
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
8
Wordplay
9.5
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingEnjambment for narrative tensionDynamic cadence shiftsContextual shock-value juxtaposition
Rhyme Architecture: Dense, polysyllabic internal structure ('liquor/cigarettes/speed' to 'disfigured/ligaments/indeed') anchoring long, multisyllabic clusters that resolve on aggressive, hard-consonant end-rhymes.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"My morals went thhbbpp when the president got oral"
① The physical sound of a raspberry or flatulence representing a moral collapse.② A direct reference to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, utilizing the auditory 'thhbbpp' as a bridge to rhyme with 'oral'.
"My dick shrunk smaller, but my balls got larger"
① Physical maturation contrasted with shrinking ego or biological irony.② A metaphor for the growth of his 'courage' or brazen audacity in the face of public scrutiny, juxtaposed with the 'smaller' stature of his past self.
Exceptional rhythmic integration of dark narrative themes
Perfect manipulation of tension and release through syllable density
Commanding, erratic vocal performance that mirrors the lyrical content
Reliance on shock-value content that can overshadow complex lyrical subtext
Occasional simplification of vocabulary for the sake of rhyme speed